at once
Idioms-
At the same time, as in We can't all fit into the boat at once . [First half of 1200s] Also see at one time , def. 1.
-
Immediately, as in Mother told the children to come inside at once . [First half of 1500s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s too hard to think of all the categories at once.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
There are traditionally four cameras rolling at once: two on the main characters in a scene, one wide shot of the room, and a tracking camera that can follow any movement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Achieving both at once has been much harder.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
The perpetrators told her to drive to the sheriff’s office to settle the signature issue, then ordered her to pull over before she arrived: Bail had to be deposited all at once, not in increments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
He looks at me, and at once, it becomes very clear that he likes me, maybe as much as I like him.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
